Europe is hit by the elements: high temperatures and fires, Ukraine – gusty winds and rain
Against the backdrop of the global heatwave, which has swept the entire continent for the seventh consecutive week, forest fires and extreme temperatures are prevailing in Europe, while Ukraine has been experiencing an unexpected change in weather conditions since the beginning of the week: strong winds, downpours and hail. All this creates a complex and volatile climate background for the countries of the European Union and neighboring states. The global heatwave, which has gained momentum, has caused critical situations in several European countries. According to Euronews, the temperature in Turkey is now above 40 degrees Celsius, and large-scale forest fires have broken out in some regions, such as Izmir, Bursa, Tekirdağ, Sakarya and Adana. In response, local authorities have declared a state of emergency, and fire departments are working around the clock - both on the ground and from the air. However, the fight against the fire is complicated by a tragedy: a firefighting plane crashed near Adana while taking water for extinguishing. At the moment, search and rescue operations are underway, and rescuers are making every effort to find and save possible victims. Greece, which has faced a powerful heat wave for the first time this season, is preparing for an even greater heat load. According to meteorologists, the temperature in the country this week will reach a maximum of 40-41 degrees in the inland regions. This situation has forced local residents and tourists to prepare intensively for hot days, especially in areas where high temperatures are already being recorded. On the Iberian Peninsula, the fire danger situation is only getting worse. In Spain and Portugal, temperatures are rising rapidly - in some areas of Portugal, extreme temperatures of up to 44 degrees and above are possible. The country's meteorological service has already issued a warning to citizens: a yellow level of danger has been declared for most of the continental part of the country, and an orange level in the most vulnerable inland regions, meaning an increased probability of fires and other climatic disasters. Ukraine has become an exception to all this. Here, on the contrary, an unexpected change in the weather is observed: since the beginning of the week, wind gusts have significantly increased in several regions of the country, rains, thunderstorms and hail have begun. In particular, in the capital, due to bad weather, the main state flag was even temporarily lowered - to protect the flag from damage, it was left lowered until the weather conditions improve. According to Kyivzelenbud, to prevent damage to the flag, it will be raised again only after the situation stabilizes. In the Poltava region, strong gusts of wind caused serious problems with power supply: more than a thousand houses were left without power due to damaged power lines. Specialists are already working to restore power supply, but the implementation of the work is ongoing. According to the Ukrhydrometeorological Center, by the end of June, wind gusts of 15–18 m/s are expected in Kyiv and its surroundings — the danger level is yellow. The upcoming July promises a return to heat. Forecasters have predicted that from the first days of the new month, the temperature in Ukraine may rise to +28 to +34 degrees, and in the southern regions — even higher. This means that after a short lull in the likely sharp temperature drop, Ukrainians will again face high temperatures that will last for several days in a row. Such a climate transition creates additional challenges for life support systems, agriculture, and medical services, which are already preparing for new tests. Thus, in Europe and Ukraine, the weather is demonstrating its unpredictability, changing from extreme heat and fires to strong winds and torrential rains. Such a multifaceted climate front has become a challenge for governments and residents of both continents, who must be prepared for any scenarios.